Fig. 2

GQD improves gut microbiota and the abundance of Akkermansia in Meth-withdrawn mice as well as in the culture in vitro. A The experimental timeline settings in WT and Germ-free (GF) mice. B Anxiety-like behaviors tests, including EPM and OFT. Pictures to the right show the representative traces of the corresponding behavioral tests. C The experimental timeline settings in antibiotics exposure mice (ABx) mice. D Anxiety-like behaviors tests in ABx, including EPM and OFT. Pictures to the right show the representative traces of the corresponding behavioral tests. E Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) among groups. F Shannon index the significant changed gut microbiota among groups. G Box graphs of significantly changed absolute abundances of eight bacteria at genus level among groups. H Heatmaps of bacteria flora with significant alternations in absolute abundance across SV, MV, SG and MG groups at genus level. I The abundances of all detected gut bacteria at genus level are illustrated by relative quantification (left) and absolute quantification (right). J The experimental setting of Akkermansia in vitro culture. K, L The growth profiles of Akkermansia with increasing concentrations (μg/ml) of Meth or GQD in culture medium. M The growth profiles of Akkermansia in 8 μg/ml Meth culture medium with increasing concentrations (μg/ml) of GQD. OA, open arms of EMP. CA, central area of OFT. Sal, saline withdrawal mice. Meth, Meth-withdrawn mice. V: vehicle-treated mice. GQD, GQD-treated mice. SV: vehicle treatment in saline withdrawal mice. MV: vehicle treatment in Meth-withdrawn mice. SG: GQD treatment in saline withdrawal mice. MG: GQD treatment in Meth-withdrawn mice. N.S., P > 0.05; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01 versus the indicated or 0 concentration controls